A kiwi is a nomadic small flightless bird that is native to New Zealand. They are classified in the Anamalia Kingdom in the family Apterygidae. They are the only lone survivors of a once much larger family since there are only five endangered species left. Most of the species were affected during a historic desforestation period and the greatest threat to their endanger invasive mammalian predation. Kiwis are New Zealand's national symbol appearing everywhere and is a strong association that is used as a colliqual demonym to the New Zealanders. They are prominent in the coat of arms, crests and badges of many New Zealand's cities, clubs and organizations, often the New Zealand dollar is refer to the "kiwi dollar".
Kiwi are only endemic to New Zealand and are rare in other places. Kiwi adaption to terrestial life is extensive. Its natural habitat is native forests though it is now only located in kauri and coniferous forests where the underground is dominated with tree ferns. They prefer subtropical and temperate podocarp and beech forests however due to habitat clearing they have to adapt to various habitats mostly agricultural areas such as sub-alpine scrub, tussock grassland and the mountains. Kiwi mostly have nocturnal habitats due to predator habitat intrusions that includes humans.
Species:
Distribution of each species
The largest species is the Great Spotted Kiwi and is a grey-brown plumage with lighter bands. Both parents incubate the eggs and they are mostly distributed through the mountainous parts of northwest Nelson, West Coast and the Southern Alps.
The Little Spotted Kiwi is the smallest species and is unable to withstand predation from pigs, stoats and cats leading to its extinction in the mainland. The little spotted kiwi is introduced to predator-free islands and appears to transform the island with about fifty "Little Spots" on each island.
The Rowi is one of the newest species that is identified in 1994 and is slightly smaller with a greyish tinge to the plumage and sometimes have white facial feathers. The distribution of these kiwi are limited to a small area on the west coast of New Zealand and is the only species where the female lays as many as three eggs in a season.
The Tokoeka is a common species that is distributed among south and western parts of South Islands and its plumage is a lighter colour than the other species. Its size is similar to the Great Spotted Kiwi and resembles the appearance of the Brown Kiwi.
The North Island Brown Kiwi is another common species however it is mostly distributed more parts of the North Island. The species demonstrates a remarkable resilience: the animal adapts to a wide range of habitats even in non-native forests and some of the farmlands and its plumage is a streaky red-brown and spiky.
Evolution
Kiwi were long presumed as another native New Zealand species, moa however DNA studies in Oxford University indicate the ostrich were more similar to moa than kiwi instead the kiwi resemble the emu and cassowaries.
Structural Adaptation One:
Long beak of kiwi
Kiwis are unusual animals since they have the size of a domestic chicken yet they lay the largest egg size than other animals. Kiwi are genetic leftovers due to their odd characteristics that haven't evolved much at all. The strange appearance of the kiwis gives a slightly comic effect to people and have a mild sense of humour as they are the only birds with nostrils at the end of the beaks to locate predators due to their poor eyesight. They are ratities meaning they have no neel on the breastbone to anchor wing muscles therefore they are flightless. Birds generally have hollow bones to minimize weight and make flight practicable whereas kiwi have marrow that is similar to mammals.
Structual Adaptation Two:
Structure of a Kiwi
Kiwi have no tails instead the thick brown-hair like patterns on their fur can allow them to camouflage themselves on the ground from predators espcially in burrows however their eyes are small and their ears are hidden since they have a disability in hearing and seeing well. Kiwi have a highly developed keen sense of smell. Kiwi use their long beaks as their beaks have organs that sense vibrations in the soil allowing them to locate insects and other food conveniently and to help them dig deep into the ground to hide themselves in the shelter as they can't fly. Kiwi defend themselves using their legs and sharp claws to attack at anyone ambusing them and they are quick runners allowing them to flee from predators pursuing them.
Behavioral Adaptation One:
Kiwi and its egg size
Kiwi can have an everlasting relationship that can last about twenty years mostly. Once mated, the male and female kiwi are bonded, and they call one another meeting every three days in their nests made inside their burrows.
Hatchling
Kiwi are an extraordinary and unique species since the male and female both have ovaries and the male incubates the egg instead of the female except the Great Spotted kiwi where the parents are involved together. Two to three days prior to the mother's labor, there is only a small amount of space in her stomach as she needs to have twice to three times the amount of meals she has due to the large egg size leaving the mother having huge demands. Gestation is uncomfortable to the female making them unable to move much. Females relieve their pain soaking their abdomen in puddles. The hatchlings are covered in a scraggly version of adult plumage and they survive on yolk reserves instead of feeding from their mother as they are able to to locate their food. Mature kiwis are light brown and rather chubby with long beaks.
Behavioral Adaptation Two:
Kiwi are mostly nocturnal and shy animals. At night, they leave the burrows they dig underground to locate food. They do not emerge until thirty minutes after sunset. If the kiwi are located in an area lack of predators, they will appear during the day. The males are mostly violent when it comes to their territory as they experience bad tempers to defend their area. Despite their size, they will call, chase or fight against intruders. Vocalizations of the male Great Spotted Kiwi include growls, hisses and snapping their bills resembling a warbling whistle and the female's call is harsh, rapsy and warbling. The Great Spotted Kiwi is the largest in all species, making them able to protect themselves from most predators that are invasive species in New Zealand.
Physiological Adaptation
Birds are ensure they are monitored closely in cases of heat stress. They may experience hyperthermia including open-mouth breathing and the flattering of feathers to the body. An average body temperature to a bird is 38 degrees celcius and once they reach that degree, the ambient temperature is reduced. Most kiwi have an inherent lower body temperature than other avian species as they cannot tolerate high ambient temperatures well hence to avoid hyperthermia, they have a large fur coating to regulate their temperature.
Ancient Animal Moa
Future Animal OzziSee similar habitat for Vulture
For more reference see Wikipedia-Kiwi
A documentary on Kiwi see Kiwi-The Life of Birds
Kiwi
General Information
A kiwi is a nomadic small flightless bird that is native to New Zealand. They are classified in the Anamalia Kingdom in the family Apterygidae. They are the only lone survivors of a once much larger family since there are only five endangered species left. Most of the species were affected during a historic desforestation period and the greatest threat to their endanger invasive mammalian predation. Kiwis are New Zealand's national symbol appearing everywhere and is a strong association that is used as a colliqual demonym to the New Zealanders. They are prominent in the coat of arms, crests and badges of many New Zealand's cities, clubs and organizations, often the New Zealand dollar is refer to the "kiwi dollar".
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Anamalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Family: Apterygidae
Genus: Apteryx
Habitat:
Kiwi are only endemic to New Zealand and are rare in other places. Kiwi adaption to terrestial life is extensive. Its natural habitat is native forests though it is now only located in kauri and coniferous forests where the underground is dominated with tree ferns. They prefer subtropical and temperate podocarp and beech forests however due to habitat clearing they have to adapt to various habitats mostly agricultural areas such as sub-alpine scrub, tussock grassland and the mountains. Kiwi mostly have nocturnal habitats due to predator habitat intrusions that includes humans.
Species:
The Little Spotted Kiwi is the smallest species and is unable to withstand predation from pigs, stoats and cats leading to its extinction in the mainland. The little spotted kiwi is introduced to predator-free islands and appears to transform the island with about fifty "Little Spots" on each island.
The Rowi is one of the newest species that is identified in 1994 and is slightly smaller with a greyish tinge to the plumage and sometimes have white facial feathers. The distribution of these kiwi are limited to a small area on the west coast of New Zealand and is the only species where the female lays as many as three eggs in a season.
The Tokoeka is a common species that is distributed among south and western parts of South Islands and its plumage is a lighter colour than the other species. Its size is similar to the Great Spotted Kiwi and resembles the appearance of the Brown Kiwi.
The North Island Brown Kiwi is another common species however it is mostly distributed more parts of the North Island. The species demonstrates a remarkable resilience: the animal adapts to a wide range of habitats even in non-native forests and some of the farmlands and its plumage is a streaky red-brown and spiky.
Evolution
Kiwi were long presumed as another native New Zealand species, moa however DNA studies in Oxford University indicate the ostrich were more similar to moa than kiwi instead the kiwi resemble the emu and cassowaries.
Structural Adaptation One:
Kiwis are unusual animals since they have the size of a domestic chicken yet they lay the largest egg size than other animals. Kiwi are genetic leftovers due to their odd characteristics that haven't evolved much at all. The strange appearance of the kiwis gives a slightly comic effect to people and have a mild sense of humour as they are the only birds with nostrils at the end of the beaks to locate predators due to their poor eyesight. They are ratities meaning they have no neel on the breastbone to anchor wing muscles therefore they are flightless. Birds generally have hollow bones to minimize weight and make flight practicable whereas kiwi have marrow that is similar to mammals.
Structual Adaptation Two:
Kiwi have no tails instead the thick brown-hair like patterns on their fur can allow them to camouflage themselves on the ground from predators espcially in burrows however their eyes are small and their ears are hidden since they have a disability in hearing and seeing well. Kiwi have a highly developed keen sense of smell. Kiwi use their long beaks as their beaks have organs that sense vibrations in the soil allowing them to locate insects and other food conveniently and to help them dig deep into the ground to hide themselves in the shelter as they can't fly. Kiwi defend themselves using their legs and sharp claws to attack at anyone ambusing them and they are quick runners allowing them to flee from predators pursuing them.
Behavioral Adaptation One:
Behavioral Adaptation Two:
Kiwi are mostly nocturnal and shy animals. At night, they leave the burrows they dig underground to locate food. They do not emerge until thirty minutes after sunset. If the kiwi are located in an area lack of predators, they will appear during the day. The males are mostly violent when it comes to their territory as they experience bad tempers to defend their area. Despite their size, they will call, chase or fight against intruders. Vocalizations of the male Great Spotted Kiwi include growls, hisses and snapping their bills resembling a warbling whistle and the female's call is harsh, rapsy and warbling. The Great Spotted Kiwi is the largest in all species, making them able to protect themselves from most predators that are invasive species in New Zealand.
Physiological Adaptation
Birds are ensure they are monitored closely in cases of heat stress. They may experience hyperthermia including open-mouth breathing and the flattering of feathers to the body. An average body temperature to a bird is 38 degrees celcius and once they reach that degree, the ambient temperature is reduced. Most kiwi have an inherent lower body temperature than other avian species as they cannot tolerate high ambient temperatures well hence to avoid hyperthermia, they have a large fur coating to regulate their temperature.
Bibliography
Wisegeek (2009) What is a Kiwi Bird Retrieved June 15th 2010 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-kiwi-bird.htm
Metacafe (2009) The Kiwi Bird-National Bird of New Zealand Retrieved June 15th 2010 from http:www.metacafe.com/watch/2545344/the_kiwi_bird_national_bird_of_new_zealand/
Britannica (2008) Kiwi Retrieved June 15th 2010 from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/319768/**kiwi**
Wikipedia (2010) Kiwi Retrieved June 15th 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/kiwi